Cari Shaffer to receive 2012 UCCS College of Business Lifetime Entrepreneurship Award

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — Cari Shaffer, founder of ADD STAFF, Inc., will receive the 2012 University of Colorado Colorado Springs College of Business Lifetime Entrepreneurship Award at a May 11 campus luncheon.

Shaffer will be celebrated for her work in building the largest locally-owned staffing firm in southern Colorado, as well as her tireless community service.

Shaffer founded ADD STAFF in 1984 with one employee and has expanded to 16 employees. Her true impact, however, is measured by the more than 41,000 people in the Pikes Peak region her company has helped find temporary and permanent jobs.

“We are proud to honor Cari Shaffer with this award because she models the traits we want our students to emulate,” Venkat Reddy, dean, College of Business, said. “Through hard work, determination, self-discipline and a priority to help people, she has shown us all how we can build our own successful futures.”

The award luncheon is a fundraising event to support College of Business scholarships and efforts to strengthen alumni, student, college, and community connections. The luncheon begins at 11:30 a.m. May 11 in Berger Hall. Dean’s Circle sponsors of the award luncheon are ANB Bank, Penrose-St. Francis Health Services, Nunn Construction, Inc., and Stockman Kast Ryan + Co., and the UCCS College of Business. Businesses wishing to sponsor a table or individuals wishing to purchase tickets at $150 each may contact Samantha Bruner at (719)255-5174 or sbruner@uccs.edu.

Shaffer is an ardent supporter of the community and serves on many local boards including the Penrose –St. Francis Foundation, Colorado Springs Police Foundation, UCCS Chancellor’s Round Table, and the YMCA Foundation. Shaffer is the first woman president of the Winter Night Club and was the founding chairman of four organizations: the Colorado Springs Human Resources Association, the Education Foundation of the Better Business Bureau, the Women’s Business Council of the Chamber of Commerce, and the Pikes Peak Coalition of Chambers. She also is one of only four women to chair the board of directors of the Greater Colorado Springs Chamber of Commerce in its 114-year history. Shaffer also funded the Cari Shaffer Scholarship Fund through the Pikes Peak Community Foundation.

The luncheon keynote speaker is Al Davis, professor, College of Business. In addition to teaching and research, Davis is an experienced entrepreneur, business strategist, consultant, teacher, avid world traveler, author, and lifelong student.

The UCCS College of Business was established in 1965 and has more than 1,300 undergraduates and 450 MBA and distance MBA students. The College of Business and Administration awards the Bachelor of Science in Business and Bachelor of Innovation™ degrees. The Graduate School of Business Administration awards the Master of Business Administration degree. More than 8,000 alumni of the College of Business live and work around the world.

UCCS, located on Austin Bluffs Parkway in Colorado Springs, is one of the fastest growing universities in the nation. The University offers 36 bachelor’s degrees, 19 master’s degrees, and five doctoral degrees. The campus enrolls about 9,300 students annually.